Portulaca plant named ‘SAKPOR009’

ABSTRACT

A  portulaca  plant particularly distinguished by having red flowers with yellow eyes, long flower blooming period and a dense, compact, and mounding plant growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Portulaca oleracea.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKPOR009’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of portulacaplant, botanically known as Portulaca oleracea, and referred to by thevariety name ‘SAKPOR009’.

‘SAKPOR009’ originated from a hybridization made in October 2008 inKakegawa, Japan. The female parent was an unpatented proprietaryPortulaca breeding line named ‘6Bu-50A-V4’ which had a red flower colorand a semi-upright plant growth habit. The male parent was an unpatentedproprietary Portulaca breeding line named ‘6Bl-66A-V1’, characterized byits pink flower color and domed plant growth habit.

In October 2008, ‘6Bu-50A-V4’ and ‘6Bl-66A-V1’ were crossed and some F₁seeds were obtained. In May 2009, the F₁ seed was sown in thegreenhouse, cultivated, and plant lines were produced. The plants wereevaluated. In August 2009, five plants were selected from the F₁ group.In October 2009, F₂ seeds were harvested after crossing within the fiveplants. In August 2010, plant line ‘K2012-105’ was selected for its redflower color, long flower blooming period and domed plant growth habit.

In March 2011, line ‘K2012-105’ was vegetatively propagated, cultivatedand evaluated. In August 2011, the breeder confirmed that line‘K2012-105’ was fixed and stable. The line ‘K2012-105’ was propagatedand cultivated again from 2012 to 2014 reconfirming the lines'stability. The line was subsequently named ‘SAKPOR009’ and its uniquecharacteristics were found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Red flower color with yellow eye;    -   2. Long flower blooming period; and    -   3. Dense, compact, and mounding plant growth habit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘SAKPOR009’ were applied for in Japan on Sep.9, 2014 (Application number 29522). ‘SAKPOR009’ has not been madepublicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This portulaca plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photographs are of a three month old plant grown inSalinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKPOR009’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from three month old plants grown inSalinas, Calif. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Portulacaceae.        -   Botanical.—Portulaca oleracea.        -   Common.—Purslane.        -   Designation.—‘SAKPOR009’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘6Bu-50A-V4’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘6Bl-66A-V1’ (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 2 weeks.        -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0            to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.            The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution: 9 water) root            inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from            overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient            roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and            grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse            located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based            growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,            10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or            every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were            top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing            20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical            average air temperature was 24° C.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit and form.—Dense, compact, and mounding.        -   Height.—Approximately 8.0 cm from soil line to top of            foliage.        -   Spread.—Approximately 35.0 cm.        -   Time and conditions to produce a rooted cutting.—2 weeks.        -   Life cycle.—Annual.        -   Flowering requirements.—Blooms repeatedly from spring to            fall.-   Stems:    -   -   General description.—Round with lateral ridges.        -   Stem color.—RHS 145A (Yellow-Green) and RHS 59C            (Red-Purple).        -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 59C (Red-Purple).        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem diameter.—2.0 mm to 4.0 mm.        -   Stem length.—11.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Branching.—Abundant.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull, slightly waxy.        -   Leaf length.—2.5 cm.        -   Leaf width.—1.0 cm.        -   Leaf thickness.—Less than 1.0 mm.        -   Surface texture (both surfaces).—Dull, slightly waxy, soft.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 146A (Yellow-Green) with most            leaves having RHS 59A (Red-Purple) at edge (mature and            immature). Lower surface: RHS 146B (Yellow-Green) with most            leaves having RHS 59A (Red-Purple) at edge.        -   Leaf surface pubescence.—Absent.        -   Venation.—Only the mid vein is visible.        -   Petiole.—Absent.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary, sessile.        -   Flowering habit.—Determinate.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—1 day.        -   Flower diameter.—3.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Surface appearance and texture.—Shiny, pubescent, smooth and            slightly waxy.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Bud length.—1.2 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—4.0 mm.        -   Bud color.—RHS 146C (Yellow-Green) with RHS 59B            (Red-Purple).-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Five distinct petals, free, petals are heart-shaped            with a square base.        -   Petal pubescence.—Glabrous.        -   Petal size.—Length: 2.0 cm. Width: 1.5 cm.        -   Petal apex.—Retuse.        -   Petal margin.—Double lobed.        -   Petal color.—Upper surface: Closest to RHS 53C (Red) with            RHS 15B at base. Lower surface: Closest to RHS 29D (Orange)            with streaks of RHS 58A towards apex.-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—Composed of two sepals, free.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire,            slightly sinuate. Sepal length: 8.0 mm. Sepal diameter:            5.0 mm. Sepal color: Closest to RHS 144B (Yellow-Green) with            RHS 59C (Red-Purple) at tip. Texture (both surfaces): Soft,            dull and slightly sticky. Appearance: Double lobed, slightly            sinuate.-   Reproductive organs: Androecium.    -   -   Stamen number.—Many.        -   Stamen form.—Free.        -   Stamens color.—Anther: RHS 24A (Orange). Filament color: RHS            59C (Red-Purple) towards tip and RHS 1A (Green-Yellow)            towards base.        -   Stamen length.—3.0 mm to 6.0 mm.        -   Pollen amount.—Minimal.        -   Pollen color.—RHS 24A (Orange).        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Placental arrangement.—Central.        -   Pistil number.—1 (per inflorescence).        -   Pistil length.—1.1 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 59C (Red-Purple).        -   Stigma length.—3.0 mm.        -   Style length.—8.0 mm.        -   Style color.—RHS 1A (Green-Yellow).        -   Seed production.—Absent.-   Disease and insect resistance: None observed.-   Environmental conditions, disease and insect resistance: None    observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKPOR009’ is a distinct variety of Portulaca owing to its red flowercolor, long flower blooming period and domed plant habit. ‘SAKPOR009’ isdistinguished from its parents as shown below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent: Male parent:Characteristic ‘SAKPOR009’ ‘6Bu-50A-V4’ ‘6B1-66A-V1’ Flower color RedRed Pink Plant growth habit Domed Semi-mounding, Domed upright

‘SAKPOR009’ is most similar to the variety SUN DANCE ‘Cherry Red’, alsoknown as ‘SAKPOR002’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,600) however, there aredifferences in flower petal color and plant growth habit as described inthe table below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety SUN DANCE Characteristic‘SAKPOR009’ ‘Cherry Red’ Flower petal color, upper Closest to RHS 53C(Red) RHS 43A (Red) surface with RHS 15B at base Plant growth habitDomed Semi-mounding, upright

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of portulaca plant named‘SAKPOR009’ as illustrated and described herein.